Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman is calling on Chris Minns to stand up to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ensure that NSW doesn’t lose funding for essential infrastructure projects.
“The Albanese Labor Government promised a 90-day infrastructure review – and we’re still awaiting the outcome some 200 days later. What’s clear is that Federal Labor are lining NSW up for cuts to infrastructure projects and Chris Minns hasn’t done enough to safeguard our state,” Mr Speakman said.
“Federal Labor has announced that states will now have to pay for half of new regional road and rail infrastructure projects, an increase from 20% to 50%, adding additional strain to the State Budget and putting at risk the viability of future projects.”
“When Labor announced their infrastructure review, we called on Chris Minns to pick up the phone to Anthony Albanese and fight to protect NSW projects. Now it appears that Canberra will send money to Victoria to build their ill-conceived Suburban Rail Loop and projects including the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow will be put at risk.”
Labor’s changes to infrastructure funding will see increased congestion and less safe roads, with regional NSW to be hit the hardest. Without this higher level of funding, many regional road projects would never have been approved.
These road projects are not only vital for improving the safety of regional roads, but essential if we are to improve national productivity in freight and logistics supply chains.
“We need a Premier who will stand up to Canberra on issues like immigration and infrastructure. It’s time Chris Minns’ actions matched his rhetoric and he worked with his Labor mates in Canberra to protect NSW projects. The NSW Opposition will continue to stand up for regional NSW and the many communities who are at risk as a result of Labor’s poor decisions,” Mr Speakman concluded.
